Switching trucks for a trip?

[PHS79]

We have a week long trip to the Black Hills and Deadwood SD booked for this summer, it will be a about 1500 miles from WI and back. Our TT is a 2013 Passport 3220BH (with Reese Dual Cam hitch) that I tow with my 2004 F150 SC, 6.5ft box, FX4, 5.4L, 3.73 gears. One day talking to my parents my dad offered to let us use his 2002 F350 SC, DRW, 8ft box, 4x4, 7.3L PSD, 4.10 gears. Both trucks are low mileage, 66,000 miles (mine) and 85,000 miles (dads), and in excellent condition

I have no problem using my truck for the trip, but I also think I would be foolish not to use dads F350 since there is no comparison of towing performance between the two trucks.

Am I thinking of this wrong since we now planning on taking dads truck?

The only down sides that I can think of is that I have a feeling after the trip I will end up wanting a diesel as my full time tow rig and I will have to mess with my hitch to to get the correct setup.

[PHS79]

Thanks for the input everyone, it looks like we will be taking my old mans truck for the trip.

[SouthpawHD]

evanrem wrote:
i did the same trip last summer with by 2010 Silverado 1500. My trailer is a 33 footer which comes in around 8k. The truck did the job but i took it pretty easy on it and told myself if after this trip a 2500 is in my future. the long drives were tiring and with the speed limit being 75 I think , cars and trucks were zipping by while I went about 62. There was a fair amount of single lane road construction on the freeway which was a bit of a white knuckle for me. Depending where you stay there can be some big climbs Custer. We stayed at bluebell and there is a pretty big climb for a guy from wi. In short take the bigger truck especially if this is your first time towing out that way. We are going to Yellowstone this summer and I have a 2500 in the garage now.

I'm also from WI and went out west this past summer on my Harley and saw all sorts of 1/2 tons and said to my wife if we ever went out west with the family and the camper, we'd need a new truck. I now have a new 2500 in my garage too. Can't wait for the upcoming trip 🙂

[Cup_fan]

Got to agree with most of the other posters. We went to the Black hills the week of July 4th in 2014. Going west on I-90 we ran into an absolutely brutal headwind. Thankfully, we didn't take the camper with us on that trip. Don't know if that kind of wind is common or not there, but the many RV's that we did see were really struggling. They were swaying all over the place and struggling to stay in one lane. Just based on that, I would definitely take the diesel truck if it were me. Enjoy your trip, we loved it there.

[stetwood]

gbopp wrote:
Make sure you return your dad's truck, after your trip, clean and with a ful tank of fuel. 🙂

And maybe an oil change too.

[Kevin_O_]

steadypraying426 wrote:

Old-Biscuit wrote:
I think your DAD is wanting a new truck.........and will have found the buyer for his 2002 :B

Hahahhahaha x2!!!!

Yes!! X3
If he is willing to sell I wouldn't hesitate! 🙂

[Grit_dog]

Ha, sounds like me about 10 years ago. Was taking the annual trip to lake of the ozarks and had no problem pulling the boat with my half ton. But at the time I was renting a bunch of equipment from Hertz and got them to rent me a new crew cab powerstroke for the trip......for $100! Cash
After that 2000mi round trip with a truck that didn't downshift except on big grades and the 12-13mpg vs the 8-9mpg out of the gasser, I promptly found a diesel and haven't been without one since.
Doesn't matter if I'm hauling the TC, towing my 32' sled trailer, boat or combo of both, truck always has the power and brakes to tow/haul with ease.
Take the diesel. Don't worry too much about the wd hitch. Prolly won't sag much at all dropping it on the back of a 350!

[steadypraying42]

Old-Biscuit wrote:
I think your DAD is wanting a new truck.........and will have found the buyer for his 2002 :B

Hahahhahaha x2!!!!

[Old-Biscuit]

I think your DAD is wanting a new truck.........and will have found the buyer for his 2002 :B

[Murphsmom]

Just remember that the liability insurance on your trailer is covered by the tow vehicle. Check with your (and your Dad's) insurance to make sure you are covered.

Have fun!

[evanrem]

i did the same trip last summer with by 2010 Silverado 1500. My trailer is a 33 footer which comes in around 8k. The truck did the job but i took it pretty easy on it and told myself if after this trip a 2500 is in my future. the long drives were tiring and with the speed limit being 75 I think , cars and trucks were zipping by while I went about 62. There was a fair amount of single lane road construction on the freeway which was a bit of a white knuckle for me. Depending where you stay there can be some big climbs Custer. We stayed at bluebell and there is a pretty big climb for a guy from wi. In short take the bigger truck especially if this is your first time towing out that way. We are going to Yellowstone this summer and I have a 2500 in the garage now.

[PHS79]

DutchmenSport wrote:
Sounds like you've pretty much fixed in your mind you're getting one some day anyway.

My parents winter in AZ and they have mentioned a couple different times that this may be their last winter taking their 5th wheel, and have looked at maybe buying a place. I told my dad that if they do sell the 5er that I want his truck, I don't want to let his low mileage and immaculate condition 7.3L get away.

Pretty much all that I use my F150 for is towing the camper, so I can't justify buying a new truck for only putting 3000 miles a year on. So dads truck would fit my needs nicely, an extremely clean and reliable heavy duty truck (that I know the entire history on) that I would be into for $15000 or less.

[rhagfo]

Not a heavy trailer, but I think you will be surprised between the two.

[kw_00]

Well; once you borrow that truck, you will most likely enjoy the stability of an HD truck and the power of the diesel. You may just may decide to upgrade sooner then you think.....I pull with the gas job and love it, despite pulling with a diesel. Both are great, the benefits of an HD truck regardless of gas or diesel will surprise you.

[Trackrig]

On the way home, when you drop the DW off to grocery shop, you can go visit the local truck dealerships.........

Bill